Murray fighting his own expectations

Pumped-up: Andy Murray has been guilty of trying too hard

By Mark Hodgkinson

12:01AM GMT 10 Jan 2006

So over-eager has Andy Murray been to rediscover his form of last year that, after yesterday's opening-round victory in Auckland, he conceded he has been forcing his tennis in the early stages of the season. The Scottish teenager would much prefer it if he could be a little less fraught, and a little more relaxed, on court.

Murray may have defeated Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen 7-5, 6-2, but it was an indifferent showing. He said that his problems were partly caused by having expected too much of himself, and subsequently - when a few shots went wide or long - he became overly-critical.

He said that he was hoping to demonstrate a more composed and measured approach during tomorrow's meeting with the Croatian, Mario Ancic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist.

"I want to play like I was at the end of last year. With the things that I have worked on during the off-season, my tennis should be better so I am putting a bit of extra pressure on myself. The best thing to do is to relax and try to play myself into my matches instead of trying to play so well right at the beginning," said Murray, the world No 62.

"I need to stop putting so much pressure on myself because I then go out and make a few mistakes and get a bit down on myself. If I go out and I expect not to play so well at the start, I'm sure that I'll play better throughout the match," he said.

Murray, a natural competitor, has been working hard on learning how to carry himself during matches, and has recognised that he has been wasting his emotional energies by excessive celebrations, or by fiercely admonishing himself after a couple of errors or missed chances.

The outrageous leaps into the air, the pumps of the fist, and the self-critiques are more infrequent now than when he first appeared on the main tour last season. The trick will be for Murray to become more relaxed without losing his edge and his thrusting nature.

Murray's defeat of the 32-year-old Carlsen, in a game played with a strong wind rushing through the hard court and in a frequently blinding sun, will primarily be remembered for his efforts to charm the Auckland crowd, which contained a significant number of Scots.

When Carlsen called the trainer on court for treatment to an ankle injury in the second set, Murray was caught mid-service game and he decided to spend the interruption juggling a tennis ball with the frame of his racket, his feet, and his head. "I was just keeping myself warm and I was showing off a bit. Normally when I try it in front of people, I don't get it right," Murray said of his 'keepy-uppy' skills.

During a post-match interview on the court, Murray blithely remarked that he and his opponent had "played like women" during the opening set, when there had been multiple breaks of serve, and a few spectators gently booed him for his comment.

He was slightly taken aback and later reddened with embarrassment, but the crowd appreciated that it was a joke, and the incident was entirely light-hearted and good-natured, with the boos of the pantomime variety.

Murray said he would have to read Ancic's serve to win their first tour meeting. "Ancic is always going to be difficult because he serves so well," he said.